SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, it’s the second day of 2011! How are we feeling today after all the New Year’s celebrations eh? I know that many of us are feeling lousy from all the partying, the numerous libations we imbibed and the mountains of food we consumed. And it’s such a lousy feeling that we’ve faithfully promised ourselves not to let it happen again… until the next time that is. (smile)  Because like so many other promises we make, in time we’ll forget the terrible hangover and hurting stomach and do it again, and once more pay the awful price, for too many of us simply don’t learn from our mistakes. We become greedy and gluttonous, just like the fourth group of sinners that Agur the sage refers to in our Bit: ‘There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.’ Yes Friends, those are the greedy, the warmongers, the oppressors and suppressors, the purveyors of violence, who delight in taking advantage of others. Job says it well: ‘I was a father to the poor: and the cause (case) which I knew not I searched out (investigated). And I brake the jaws (fangs) of the wicked, and plucked the spoil (prey) out of his teeth.’ (Job 29:16-17) Oh my people, that’s how we believers ought to act in these evil and ungodly times!  We need to stand up against those who hunger and thirst for earthly wealth and power, and in their great desire, rob and steal and exploit their fellow man, taking away what little the poor folks have, often by illicit and illegal means, thus condemning them to an even poorer state. Oh Friends, the poor and righteous suffer at the hands of the wicked and venomous every day, right in front of us, and like the story of the Good Samaritan says, we either pass by on the other side or cast an impersonal glance, then go on our way, without even trying to help. But sadly my people, that’s not the Christian way. It certainly was never Christ’s way. Jesus was never too busy or otherwise preoccupied to help, especially the sick, the poor and needy, and if we’re to be a genuine reflection of Him, then we ought to make time to do the same. And it’s not like we don’t know that if we allow free rain to the greedy, wicked, shark-like predators disguised as humans, that they will gleefully swallow up as much as they can get their evil talons on without batting an eyelash. And remember too, that our resolution for this year of 2011 is to improve the sorry state of our world, which unfortunately we can’t do without standing up to the oppressors, and also helping those in need. And let’s not fool ourselves Friends by thinking that we’re secure in our little middle class world, for when the carnivores are done with the poor, their next target will be the one lowest on the totem pole, which will be the middle class, where most of us comfortably reside. In fact they’ve already started in on the middleclass, with higher taxes and higher cost of living, loss of jobs and wage roll backs. So standing up to the wicked oppressors is not simply an altruistic exercise, but also one of self-preservation. As Bruh David cautioned the prideful wicked. ‘Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs (plans destruction); like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.’ (Ps.52:2-3) Yes Friends, that’s the nature of the beast we’re dealing with; forever hungry and rapacious, only thinking of their evil selves and ambitions. This brings us to an interesting question asked by Bruh David in his song on the foolishness of men: ‘Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? Who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord.’ (Ps.14:4)The answer to that must be an obvious NO! Oh mih breddren, listen to how Amos puts it nuh: ‘Hear this, O ye that swallow up (or trample on) the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail., Saying When will the new moon be gone (past), that we may sell corn (grain)? And the Sabbath, that we may set forth (trade) wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes (sandals); yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat (the bad wheat)?’ (Amos 8:4-6) My people that sounds just like what’s happening in our world today! The days of plenty are behind us, and the racketeers have made the portions smaller, but increased the price with unfair weights and measures, also selling unwholesome food, while people are pawning their earthly treasures at ridiculously low prices just to live, since they have no jobs. It’s time we believers actually stepped up to the plate and did something concrete about all the cruelty and criminality that now reigns in our world, instead of simply talking about it, for without action, talk is useless. And Christ’s ministry always was, is and will be one of ACTION! Friends, we’ve got to plead wholeheartedly with the Lord as Bruh David did: ‘Break (away) their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Lord. Let them melt (flow) away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.’ (Ps.58:5-7) And while we’re waiting for God to do His part, my brethren, we have to do ours, to break the strangle hold that Lucifer and his evil minions have on our world. Let’s get ready for a long, arduous struggle, if we’re serious about reclaiming our world, for the enemy won’t give it up easily. That’s for sure! Much LOVE!…fighting for Jesus is never easy…but the rewards sure are worth it…